United States of India

MDMK chief Vaiko has called for revoking the ban on LTTE and strengthening the country’s federal structure on the lines of the USA, a demand which is unlikely to go down well with his national ally, the BJP. Releasing his party’s manifesto in Chennai, Vaiko said India should be called “United States of India”, and “there is a need to review the Constitution”.

The party,in its manifesto, vowed to revoke the ban on LTTE and work towards a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka. Vaiko said the controversial Sethusamudram project should be implemented after addressing the concerns of local communities and environmentalists. He said the party will strive for the closure of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

“To safeguard unity and integrity of the country and strengthen federalism by giving powers to the state,there is a need to review the Constitution,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman said parties could have their own manifestos. “But a common minimum programme for any coalition government will be worked out on the basis of which the government will function,”she said.